Over the last week my car was hit by someone in a parking lot who denied liability, my Dad's car was stolen while at a mechanic shop, and my Mom's car was stolen out of their driveway. So the point of this week's post is to encourage you to review your insurance policies. Not really, but the reality is life is unpredictable in every sense of the word, especially when hurting people are searching for answers.

My Mom's car was found early Sunday morning off the interstate near Gadsden, AL. Tragically, it was a burnt, mangled mess, and two unidentifiable bodies were inside. It's likely the same people who stole my Dad's car used the spare key from his glovebox to make an easy theft of my Mom's.

At the end of their driveway there was evidence that the thieves almost didn't even make it off their property, nearly ending up in the ditch, as the tire marks indicated. Unfortunately for all involved, the story didn't stop with an awkward nosedive off the driveway and into the ditch.

No one wakes up one day and decides to steal a car for the heck of it. I assume at least most people who have a somewhat healthy mindset and a minor amount of moral conviction don't. But who we are in desperate times (see previous post) is another story.

I heard a brilliant quote this past week about truth, personal problems, and symptoms:

"When you cannot speak your truth, your truth finds a way to speak. And that is the symptom. The challenge is to listen to your symptom, not just try to get rid of it...We think alcoholism is the problem. Alcoholism can actually often be seen as the solution to a problem. It's what you do to try to avoid a suffering in your life. And if you focus on not drinking you'll find something worse. A new symptom arises."

I imagine for the people who stole my parents' cars there was a serious problem and a symptom. The symptom might have been drug addiction. Drugs cost money. Stealing a car for money isn't the answer, but it is an answer to someone who doesn't know how to cope with their issues.

A police officer and coroner showed up at my parents' home around 6:30am on Sunday. My Mom sent me this after they left:

"Someone may have died lost. Someone’s parents will get the visit we got this morning. Having a coroner standing in your living room wondering what he is about to tell you is sobering. Life is short. I’m thanking the Lord with all my heart and soul that I didn’t hear my husband's or childrens' name from the coroner. I’m praying for the mother and father or family that they will visit with the news."

I agree. Life is short and unpredictable. These sobering reminders are costly, and not heeding their caution is blatantly unwise. If your truth can't find an expression, if your problems are birthing symptoms that you are treating with dangerous answers, please get help. The cost is just too high...for you and for others.